"The health of the American people is directly linked to a healthy environment," Sebelius said in a statement released to mark the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. "At HHS we are committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect the health of all Americans, and we recognize that ensuring a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental part of that effort."

Sebelius said funding in the reform law is helping achieve those goals. For example, the law allowed the Boriken Health Center, a neighborhood primary care center in Harlem, N.Y., to get $12 million for renovations and "significantly reduce the levels of chemicals and harmful materials normally used in construction."